Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63

शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

Devanagari script

अथ ताः षट् स्त्रियस्सर्वा दृष्ट्वा स्वव्यभिचारकम् । महादुःखान्वितास्ताताऽभवन्नाकुलमानसाः

Transliteration

atha tāḥ ṣaṭ striyassarvā dṛṣṭvā svavyabhicārakam | mahāduḥkhānvitāstātā'bhavannākulamānasāḥ

Translation

Alors ces six femmes, voyant leur propre faute de transgression, furent submergées d’une douleur intense ; leurs esprits devinrent tout à fait agités, troublés et accablés.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (indeclinable particle: then/now)

• ताः: those (women)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण; अव्ययवत्/अविकारी; बहुवचनार्थे (numeral: six)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता) बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); धातु: दृश् (to see)

• स्व: own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धवाचक विशेषण (reflexive/own); समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• व्यभिचारकम्: adulterer / one who strays
• व्यभिचारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यभिचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• महादुःखान्विताः: filled with great sorrow
• महादुःखान्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादुःख + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (महद्-दुःखेन अन्वितः = endowed with great sorrow); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तात: alas!/O dear
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तात (सम्बोधन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपातवत् (vocative interjection: O dear/alas)

• अभवन्: became
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आकुलमानसाः: with agitated minds
• आकुलमानसाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (आकुलं मानसं येषाम् = whose minds are agitated); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It shows the awakening of conscience: when adharma is recognized as one’s own, the mind becomes disturbed, prompting repentance and a turn toward purification—an essential step before grace and steadiness in Shiva-bhakti.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Shaiva practice, realizing one’s fault (doṣa-buddhi) leads to seeking refuge in Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship—using devotion, confession, and disciplined conduct to cleanse the mind and restore dharmic alignment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāyaścitta through Shiva-smaraṇa: japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with simple Linga-pūjā and a resolve to abandon the cause of the transgression.